disingenuous

adjective

Definition of disingenuousnext
as in dishonest

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disingenuous Paramount pushes back on the framing, calling the argument disingenuous. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 8 Sep. 2026 With the salary increases and more opportunities, the federation no longer has a choice but to support its players joining the WNBA, otherwise risk appearing disingenuous. — Eden Laase, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The court’s ruling is especially disingenuous because on Friday, the Postal Service did promulgate regulations limiting the use of the mail for delivering absentee ballots. — Erwin Chemerinsky, Twin Cities, 30 Aug. 2026 She was especially hurt that some of the people who criticized Cox most harshly, dismissing him as craven and disingenuous, were those who had the closest relationships with him. — Mckay Coppins, The Atlantic, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for disingenuous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disingenuous
  1. dishonest
  2. deceitful
  3. untruthful
  4. contrived
  5. hypocritical
  6. unnatural
  7. devious
  8. assumed
Adjective
  • Of course, there are also age-old hustles so evidently dishonest that there was a time when their exponents risked being hung or shot.
    — Kit Chellel, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Like the president, Vance describes Democrats as dishonest, pandering, and often stupid.
    — David Weigel, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of dishonest
Adjective
  • Hanuman inspires him to avenge the rape of his mother by a corrupt policeman working for a deceitful Hindu nationalist spiritual leader.
    — Sohini Sarah Pillai, The Conversation, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Magpies are opportunistic scavengers, incredibly cunning and deceitful and capable of calculated deception.
    — Voice of the People, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of deceitful
Adjective
  • Those commitments can be withdrawn if Saab is untruthful with investigators or probation officials, commits another crime or otherwise violates the agreement.
    — Antonio Maria Delgado, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • However, subsequent video evidence led officials to claim that the officers involved had likely made untruthful statements about what happened.
    — Paloma Chavez, PEOPLE, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of untruthful
Adjective
  • More bills in the G-string, like winning, like a casino, chance but something deeper, more contrived.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 Oct. 2026
  • It’s been one with some problems left over from the original run’s later seasons — particularly in its depiction of Rebecca’s personal life, which always felt contrived — and some issues all its own.
    — Keith Phipps, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of contrived
Adjective
  • The fine was controversial to begin with, as fans and pundits pointed out the NFL’s business with beer sponsors such as Bud Light and called the sensitivity over the celebration hypocritical.
    — Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 7 Oct. 2026
  • In his appeal, Juszczyk also argued that fining players for pretending to drink beer was hypocritical given the NFL’s beer sponsorships.
    — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 7 Oct. 2026
Definition of hypocritical
Adjective
  • That amounts to unchecked growth resulting in relatively dense stands, which are unnatural for this part of the country — despite becoming a familiar sight to Coloradans over the last few decades.
    — John Wenzel, Denver Post, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The California Department of Public Health said animals with rabies will often have strange or unnatural behavior.
    — Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of unnatural
Adjective
  • Salton is devious and untrustworthy, but is Batter’s only clear path to a promotion.
    — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026
  • The latest frontier model, with apparent human-level faculties, had gone rogue – displaying dangerous, even devious online behaviors.
    — Michael Serazio, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of devious
Adjective
  • Since storming out of that horse in July, Christopher Nolan’s film has become the assumed Best Picture front-runner on the basis of its epic scale, strong reviews, and record-breaking grosses.
    — Nate Jones, Vulture, 9 Oct. 2026
  • But despite the assumed protection from the White House, anti-AI public sentiment could still force an atypical level of agreement in Congress on the subject of AI.
    — Tobias Burns, CNBC, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of assumed

Browse Nearby Words

disinformation
disingenuous
disinherit
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Cite this Entry

“Disingenuous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disingenuous. Accessed 17 Oct. 2026.

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